Automatic pouring and dispensing machine for manufacturing hard and soft candy

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring and dispensing sugar syrups from a hopper into a mold and employing a mounting block which defines at least one cavity for housing a dispensing valve. The valve comprises a movable cylinder operable by a first pneumatic means and a piston means operable by a second pneumatic means. A pair of sequencing valves are employed for actuating the first and second pneumatic means in a timed sequence for effecting the movement of the cylinder and piston of the dispensing valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for measuring and dispensing sugar syrups into a mold comprising: a mounting block defining a cavity therein having first input and output ports,   a hopper for dispensing syrups through said first input port into said cavity,   a dispensing valve mounted in said cavity,   said valve comprising a cylinder movable in said cavity and a piston means movable in said cylinder,   said cylinder having second input and output ports,   first and second fluid operable means,   first and second sequencing means,   said first sequencing means, when activated by fluid under pressure in one position, activates said first cylinder means to connect said inlet port of said block with said inlet port of said cylinder and activates said second sequencing means to move said piston means outwardly of said cylinder to enlarge a cavity in said cylinder to receive syrup from said hopper,   said first sequencing means, when activated to another position, activating said first cylinder means to move said cylinder to close said first inlet port in said block and said second inlet port in said cylinder and to open said second outlet port in said cylinders and place it in alignment with said first outlet port in said block,   said first sequencing means, when activated to said another position, activating said second sequencing means to cause said piston means to move inwardly of said cylinder to force syrup in the cavity in said cylinder out of said first and second outlet ports into a mold.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus for measuring and dispensing sugar syrups into a mold comprising: a mounting block,   said mounting block defining at least one cylindrically shaped cavity therein,   a pair of first inlet and outlet ports in said block for communicating with said cavity,   a hopper mounted on said block for dispensing syrup into said first inlet port,   a syrup dispensing valve mounted in said cavity,   said valve comprising a cylinder movably mounted in said cavity for opening and closing said first inlet and outlet ports,   said cylinder being provided with a second pair of inlet and outlet ports,   piston means reciprocally mounted in said cylinder,   a mounting bar attached to one end of said cylinder,   an adjustment bar for controlling the position of said piston means in said cylinder,   a first pneumatic cylinder means connected to said mounting bar for reciprocally actuating said cylinder in said cavity to sequentially open and close said first pair of inlet and outlet ports,   a first sequencing means connected to control the flow of air under pressure to one end or the other end of said first pneumatic cylinder means to cause said reciprocal action,   a second pneumatic cylinder means connected to said mounting bar for also moving said cylinder in said cavity,   a second sequencing means for controlling the flow of air under pressure to said second pneumatic means,   said second sequencing means being actuated by the reciprocal movement of said mounting bar,   said first sequencing means, when activated by fluid under pressure to one position, activates said first cylinder means to move said mounting bar to connect said inlet port of said block with said inlet port of said cylinder and activates said second sequencing means to move said piston means outwardly of said cylinder to enlarge a cavity in said cylinder to receive syrup from said hopper,   said first sequencing means, when activated to another position, activating said first cylinder means to move said mounting bar to cause said cylinder to close said first inlet port in said block and said second inlet port in said cylinder and to open said second outlet port in said cylinder and place it in alignment with said first outlet port in said block,   said first sequencing means, when activated to said another position, activating said second sequencing means to cause said piston means to move inwardly of said cylinder to force syrup in the cavity in said cylinder out of said first and second outlet ports into a mold.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 in further combination with: a stirring mechanism mounted in said hopper for movement of the syrup.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein: said stirring mechanism is actuated independently of the activation of said first cylinder means.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus for measuring and dispensing sugar syrups into a mold comprising: a mounting block,   said mounting block defining a plurality of cylindrically shaped cavities formed therein,   a plurality of pairs of first inlet and outlet ports in said block, one pair being arranged for communicating with each of said cavities,   a hopper mounted on said block for dispensing syrup into each of said inlet ports,   a plurality of syrup dispensing valves, one mounted in each of said cavities,   said valves each comprising a cylinder, one movably mounted in each of said cavities for opening and closing the associated said first inlet and outlet ports,   each of said cylinders being provided with a second pair of inlet and outlet ports,   a plurality of piston means reciprocally mounted, one in each of said cylinders,   a mounting bar attached to a common end of each of said cylinders,   an adjustment bar for controlling the position of each of said piston means in its associated cylinder,   a first pneumatic cylinder means connected to said mounting bar for reciprocally actuating said cylinders in said cavities to sequentially open and close each of said first pairs of inlet and outlet ports,   a first sequencing means connected to control the flow of air under pressure to one end or the other of each of said first pneumatic cylinder means to cause said reciprocal action,   a second pneumatic cylinder means connected to said mounting bar for also moving said cylinders in said cavities, and   a second sequencing means for controlling the flow of air under pressure to said second cylinder means,   said second sequencing means being actuated by the reciprocal movement of said mounting bar,   said first sequencing means when activated by fluid under pressure in one position activates said first cylinder means to move said mounting bar to connect said inlet ports of said block with said inlet ports of said cylinders and activates said second sequencing means to move said piston means outwardly of said cylinders to enlarge cavities in each of said cylinders to receive syrup from said hopper,   said first sequencing means when activated to another position activating said first cylinder means to move said mounting bar to cause said cylinders to close said first inlet ports in said block and said second inlet ports in said cylinders and to open said second outlet ports in said cylinders and place them in alignment with said first outlet port in said block,   said first sequencing means when activated to said another position activating said second sequencing means to cause said piston means to move inwardly of said cylinders to force syrup in said cylinders out of said first and second outlet ports into a mold.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein: said cavities are parallelly and spacedly arranged in said block.   
     
     
       7. The apparatus set forth in claim 5 in further combination with: a stirring mechanism mounted in said hopper for movement of the syrup.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein: said stirring mechanism is actuated independently of the activation of said first cylinder means.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in further combination with: heater elements mounted on said hopper for maintaining the temperature of the syrup at a given temperature.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in further combination with: a heater element mounted on said block for maintaining the temperature of the syrup in said cylinders at a given temperature.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus set forth in claim 8 in further combination with: a heater element mounted on the outlet port of said block for heating the syrup passing therethrough.